Crowns and bridges are used to restore missing and damaged teeth. Crowns are used when individual teeth need restoring and bridges are used to replace a missing tooth by “bridging” and artificial tooth between two existing teeth.
A crown is a hollow artificial tooth that goes over top of a damaged or decayed tooth. This both restores the tooth and protects it from more damage.
When do you need to have a crown?
You may need a crown when:
- You have an old tooth that’s already broken or worn down
- You have a weak or cracked tooth
- You need to hold a dental bridge in place
A bridge caps the two teeth between a missing tooth with an artificial tooth in between. This helps keeps teeth in place and give you an long lasting, natural looking, artificial tooth.
Caring for Crowns and Bridges
- Try not to chew hard or sticky foods as these may damage your crown or bridge
- Floss regularly, making sure you get under a bridge and around the base of the crowns. Products such as Superfloss help get under bridges.
- Use anti-bacterial mouthwash every day
- A water-flosser will help you get under a bridge and remove food from hard to reach places